| | Your herte hongith vp on a ioly pyn | |
| | Doth now in this mater as you lest | |
| | For finally I holde it for the best | |
| 275 | Iustinus that ay sat ful stille and playde | |
| | He right on this wyse to Placebo sayde | |
| | Now brother myn quod he be pacient I pray | |
| | Syn ye haue sayd herkyn what I say | |
| | Senek among other wordis wyse | |
| 280 | Saith that aman ought hym right wel auyse | |
| | To whom he yeuyth his good or his catel | |
| | And sithnes I ought me auyse right well | |
| | To whom I yeue my good awey fro me | |
| | Wel more I oughte for to auyse me | |
| 285 | To whom I yeue my body for alwey | |
| | I warne you wel it is no childis play | |
| | To take a wyf withoute auysement | |
| | Men muste enqueren this is myn assent | |
| | Whether she be wyse sobir or dronklew | |
| 290 | An out goar or othir wey a shrewe | |
| | A chidar or a waster of thy good | |
| | Riche or poure or of maners wood | |
| | Al be it so that noman fynde shal | |
| | Noon in this worlde that trottith hool in al | |
| 295 | Ne man ne best suche as men can deuyse | |
| | But neuyrthelees it ought ynow suffyse | |
| | With ony yf so were that she hadde | |
| | Moo good vertues than vicis badde | |
| | And al this axed leyser to enquere | |
| 300 | For god it woot I haue wept ful meny a tere | |
